Man killed wife, then himself in apparent slaying-suicide, authorities say

Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Associated Press

HOUSTON {AP} A man killed his wife before turning the gun on himself, leaving two toddlers trying on Monday to revive their dead parents in their bedroom, police said.

A 2-year-old girl seemed to think her parents were sleeping and threw various items onto their bed in an attempt to wake them, said Sgt. Wayne Wendel of the Houston Police Department Homicide Division. Her 9-month-old sister was also in the room.

The bodies of Sophath Nhem, 26, and Nora Hilda Orta, 22, were found in a bed together.

The woman had been shot once in the chest and once in the head. The husband then shot himself in the head, police said.